In an attempt to help students destress during finals week, ASB is planning events including wellness animals, ugly holiday sweaters and hot chocolate.

Also during finals week, the Food for Thought program will return, and students will be able to study for finals in the MAC and library until 8 p.m. with food provided. Peer tutoring will be available, as well as study groups formed around specific classes.

ASB Senior Class President Mathew Signorello-Katz said his group has felt the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in planning these events.

“The pandemic has made things a bit difficult, but we’re lucky enough in terms of the case numbers, so that has allowed us a little bit more flexibility,” Signorello-Katz said.

ASB is adapting COVID-19 regulations when planning for the winter rally that will be finalized in January.

“Your traditional winter rally is the one that’s held in the big gym, and it’s similar to a spirit week rally where you have games and cheers,” Signorello-Katz said. “Of course, we’re keeping the games and cheer element, but at least right now, it’s predicted that it will have to happen outside.”

ASB is also planning a fishbowl discussion about student wellness near the end of the semester. Topics in the discussion include the district’s Title IX policy, 504 and IEP plans and returning to school after staying at home from the pandemic.

“It’s an opportunity for students to be able to go to a meeting and then discuss their feelings and what they feel is working well and what needs to be improved within ASB,” Signorello-Katz said.

Senior Site Council Representative Gabe Galper agrees.

“We’re trying to get a general sense of what ASB can proactively be doing, rather than reactively, which is what the Wellness Center is for,” Galper said.

Galper also said ASB is trying to be more transparent in its plans and inclusive of all opinions.

“It’s hard to proactively take action when you don’t have things to take action on, especially considering that there is a distinct lack of opinion diversity this year,” Galper said. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re revising our constitution to make sure that our student body government is more representative, but in the short term, we really do need more student opinions.”